Something a little different in this volume, a non-stop continuous mix of music. The simple reason, I ran out of time to record my notes for the usual commentary. A very busy week of interviews, speaking engagements, and voice-work left no time to get in front of the microphone to meet the deadline to get the show produced and off to the computers at our affiliate stations. So, for this volume, everything you would have heard me say is right here in print. To begin, Pam Risourié tells us all about Holding You As A New Past. The French band’s new LP, So Be It, Eternity displays a knowing sensibility to excellent songwriting and production, kudos to Rémi, Octave, Antonin, Vincent, and Maxime. Pam Risourié is on the first-class Shoredive label, so you know they have to be worthwhile of your attention. Next up, Efterklang a Danish band consisting of the 3 childhood friends Mads Brauer, Casper Clausen & Rasmus Stolberg. Hauntingly beautiful music. Listen out for curious sounds, the result of Mads experimenting in the studio, sampling instrumental loops. The album is titled, Wildflowers, the cut you’ll hear, Beautiful Eclipse. Efterklang is on City Slang and if you happen to be in Valencia, Spain on November 3, pop on into Loco Club ‘cause that’s where they will be playing. Dream Room says they are a new dream-pop band, originally from Newcastle Upon Tyne and currently based in Melbourne, Australia. They have mastered the knack of making their vocals sound as if they were recorded down a long echoey hallway on Ride, their first single. “It’s a song about rediscovering a feeling and being afraid of its power,” comments the band’s guitarist, vocalist, and founder Nad Khan. “Even though I was surrounded by loving people during the pandemic, I had a really tough time physically and mentally. I felt alone and then began to reconnect with my creative side, which was something I was very apprehensive about”. In their promo material, Traitrs say they are, “A post-punk band” and I’m not sure if this proves it but they pose in a moody black and white photo with dour faces and de rigueur haircuts. Toronto-based Sean-Patrick Nolan and Shawn Tucker clearly take their music seriously and to prove it they present, Horses In The Abattoir. I selected Sea Howl to give you a taste of what these lads are capable of. Big Red Machine with June’s a River (feat. Ben Howard & This Is The Kit) is a recording I would like to get your feedback on. Ben Howard and Kate Staples have been on my radar for some time. The album, How Long Do You Think It’s Gonna Last? Is essential listening. Sam Gayton admits to writing children’s books, plays, and “being young, irate and living in Margate”. He also goes by the name, Monofrau and has released a number of recordings under that moniker as well as his own name. It really is a conundrum to ascertain if Sam is having a jolly jape. Then again, it really doesn’t matter, Speak My Name, Death is fascinating albeit disturbing. Luckiest Girl In The World is the second cut I have chosen from Lilacjack’s EP, Her Heartbeat Pressed Against My Feet. The three tacks have to be autobiographical. I am intrigued by this work. I need to know more. Dust is by You’ll Never Get To Heaven who are Alice Hansen and Chuck Blazevic. The duo says they named their album, Wave Your Moonlight Hat For The Snowfall Train after the closing track on Phil Yost’s 1967 release Bent City. Written, recorded, performed, mixed, produced, and mastered at home by Alice and Chuck. Trainspotters will have fun with this one citing the obvious references. Australian trio, Daste first came to our attention courtesy of Jez Ryan of Mammal Sounds. Their debut 10 track album, Dusk & Dawn spotlights the almost effortlessly way this trio conjures up accessible pop music, yet with an edgy filter that makes for inclusion in LEM. Light On is a perfect example. English Teacher doesn’t mess about and get straight into a tasty slice of real rock ’n’ roll. This 4 piece out of Leeds is fronted by Lily Fontaine who shares a confidence along with her bandmates that is so important. Their cut R & B, the band says is about “the cyclical, productivity-diminishing paradox of low self-esteem and imposter syndrome-induced writer’s block that then fuels low self-esteem and imposter syndrome. It’s also about racial identity and putting the love that you have to offer a potential romantic partner back into yourself”. You should also note they are on the Nice Swan imprint. You’ll be happily rewarded if you check out their catalog. For example, Anorak Patch out of Colchester is another excellent combo you need to take note of. Their 7” Delilah “is a story. It’s about a girl who’s struggling her way through life…the song is sort of a snapshot of how difficult life can be when you are in a bad headspace without good people around you. It’s a lonely place to be” says, keyboardist Effie Lawrence who formed the group in late 2019 with high school friends Luca Ryland on drums, her brother Oscar on guitar, and on bass Eleanor Helliwell. Serious talent here at such a young age, ranging from 15 to 18! I like Anorak Patch so much, I had this on repeat play this afternoon. Telefís, is the Irish Gaelic word for Television, it also happens to be the name for the collaboration between two acclaimed Irish iconoclasts, composer/mixer/producer Garret “Jacknife” Lee and singer/lyricist/composer Cathal Coughlan (Microdisney, Fatima Mansions). Jacknife now based in Los Angeles and Cathal based in London, the two spent 2020 trading ideas and musical files during lockdown, hatching plans for a satirical, mischievous examination of Irish history and pop culture in their lifetimes, what the two have labeled “a corrosive nostalgia”. The result is an album entitled a hAon (Number One), Mister Imperator is the cut I selected loosely recounting the tale of a beloved pianist who was a light entertainment staple of early TV fare dating back to the first broadcasts in The Irish Republic in 1961. The remix is by Maurice & Charles featuring a special radio edit by Jacknife Lee. We played Hanging Freud on the show a few volumes back, so they kindly sent us Persona Normal their 6th full-length album in a career spanning over 10 years. Hanging Freud is the Glasgow-based production duo of Paula Borges and Jonathan Skinner. Written in between Sao Paulo Brazil via London UK and Glasgow, their music could be described as uncompromising and genre-defying as you’ll with the title cut. From one of my favorite cities, Vancouver B.C. comes Stephen Nicholas White who uses the moniker, Revolution Above Disorder. Originally from Dublin, Stephen says, Illuminate kickstarted Revolution Above Disorder, he had just come off a European tour with Magic Shoppe and Covid hit. “In my downtime, I began to reevaluate where I was headed musically and I realized I’d become dissatisfied with what I’d been doing. I wanted to finish what I’d started many years prior. ‘Illuminate’ was the first one I needed to record,” From Moscow, electronic producer, Kedr Livanskiy gives us Your Turn (ft. Flaty) from her exquisite album, Liminal Soul. This is such satisfyingly good music. And, there is a lovely video to accompany Your Turn directed and shot by Masha Demianova. Enjoy and don’t forget to send me your thoughts and comments. Be well, be safe, and remember, it costs nothing, be nice.
Playlist
- Pam Risourié – Holding You As A New Past
- Efterklang – Beautiful Eclipse
- Dream Room – Ride
- Traitrs – Sea Howl
- Big Red Machine – June’s a River (feat. Ben Howard & This Is The Kit)
- Monofrau – Speak My Name, Death
- Lilacjack – Luckiest Girl In The World
- You’ll Never Get To Heaven – Dust
- Daste – Light On
- English Teacher – R & B
- Anorak Patch – Delilah
- Telefis – Mister Imposanter
- Hanging Freud – Persona Normal
- Revolution Above Disorder – Illuminate (Delta Omega Remix)
- Kedr Livanskiy – Your Turn (ft. Flaty)
Artwork by Norman B. “James Halloween 2015” jpeg. Courtesy of Norman B’s collection
Life Elsewhere 